Supply chain opportunities in the car sector

Britain’s automotive supply chain received a welcome boost last month with Nissan’s announcement that it was to build new models in the UK. The firm, which is the UK’s largest car manufacturer, committed to building its new Qashqai and X-Trail SUV at its Sunderland plant.

Post-Brexit, the move provides some much-needed confidence to British car manufacturers. Around 28,000 supply-chain jobs in the UK are currently supported by Nissan, among a wider 78,000 dependent on British-based vehicle manufacturers. If other manufacturers follow Nissan’s lead, then growth in the supply chain will continue, creating career opportunities for engineers at all levels.

“We are a key supplier to Nissan in the UK and globally, with 1,400 staff in the north east alone, so the decision to build two new models in Sunderland is excellent news,” said John Barnett, vice-president manufacturing and supply chain for Calsonic Kansei, which supplies a variety of automotive components for car manufacturers worldwide. “A significant proportion of the components used to manufacture cars at the plant originate from us. In future, the opportunities are now there for us to win even more business.”